❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Commerce regarding the delay in implementing regulations to ban live electrical work following a fatal electrocution. The Minister expresses sympathy and explains the ongoing development and consultation process for the regulations.
AnsweredQoN 226Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE — LIVE ELECTRICAL WORK
226. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the tragic death on 15 March of an electrician who
was electrocuted in a roof space. Given that the minister announced in August
2015 the banning of all live electrical work, why has it taken so long for his
department to implement reforms that could have saved a life?
OF COMMERCE — LIVE ELECTRICAL WORK
226. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the tragic death on 15 March of an electrician who
was electrocuted in a roof space. Given that the minister announced in August
2015 the banning of all live electrical work, why has it taken so long for his
department to implement reforms that could have saved a life?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for the question.
I should say at the outset that I have considerable sympathy,
of course, for not only the deceased but also his family and friends. It is a very
regrettable matter that anyone dies in the course of their employment. In this
case, as I understand it, the gentleman was an electrical contractor who had
been engaged to do certain work on an air-conditioning unit. The investigation
of that matter is still underway, so I cannot develop the details of the matter
in any way. However, it is apparent that he was an experienced electrician, who
was not an apprentice or anyone who was a newcomer to the field working under
supervision in any way.
The proposed amendments to the regulations to deal with
working in enclosed roof spaces and to isolate live equipment have been under
development since August last year. It was a policy decision that was made and
after some preliminary consultation. The development of the appropriate
regulations to balance the practicality of conducting electrical work against
safety precautions for those doing that work has been under development since
and has required considerable consultation and fine-tuning with not only
WorkSafe but also EnergySafety and other agencies and stakeholders in the
industry. I have given instructions for the drafting of those regulations in
accordance with the work that has been developed over that time.
As I say, to draw the conclusion that somehow this accident
is a result of or has been contributed to by a lack of regulation for working
on electrical equipment simply has no basis and certainly will not have any
basis until an investigation reveals to the contrary. Working on electrical
equipment is by definition risky. Electricity is dangerous. That is why we
engage skilled —
Hon Kate Doust : If the regulations were in place,
the worker could have felt they could have quite legitimately turned off the power.
I do not know what the circumstances are in this very sad death —
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : No; I do not know what the
circumstances are.
Hon Kate Doust : But I know that there have been a number
of injuries when this could have been resolved.
The PRESIDENT : Order! You cannot answer
your own question. It has to be answered by the minister or parliamentary
secretary.
Hon Kate Doust interjected .
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Thank you, Mr President; I am
endeavouring to do that.
I do not think it is legitimate to draw a conclusion between
the lack of regulation in the area and the particular incident. As I was
saying, working on electrical equipment is by definition dangerous; that is why
skilled electricians are required so they can assess the hazards and deal with
those hazards. The investigation will reveal the circumstances of that tragedy,
and regulations are being developed that have taken some time to craft.
Hon Kate Doust interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I do not think I can add anything
further to it.
I should say at the outset that I have considerable sympathy,
of course, for not only the deceased but also his family and friends. It is a very
regrettable matter that anyone dies in the course of their employment. In this
case, as I understand it, the gentleman was an electrical contractor who had
been engaged to do certain work on an air-conditioning unit. The investigation
of that matter is still underway, so I cannot develop the details of the matter
in any way. However, it is apparent that he was an experienced electrician, who
was not an apprentice or anyone who was a newcomer to the field working under
supervision in any way.
The proposed amendments to the regulations to deal with
working in enclosed roof spaces and to isolate live equipment have been under
development since August last year. It was a policy decision that was made and
after some preliminary consultation. The development of the appropriate
regulations to balance the practicality of conducting electrical work against
safety precautions for those doing that work has been under development since
and has required considerable consultation and fine-tuning with not only
WorkSafe but also EnergySafety and other agencies and stakeholders in the
industry. I have given instructions for the drafting of those regulations in
accordance with the work that has been developed over that time.
As I say, to draw the conclusion that somehow this accident
is a result of or has been contributed to by a lack of regulation for working
on electrical equipment simply has no basis and certainly will not have any
basis until an investigation reveals to the contrary. Working on electrical
equipment is by definition risky. Electricity is dangerous. That is why we
engage skilled —
Hon Kate Doust : If the regulations were in place,
the worker could have felt they could have quite legitimately turned off the power.
I do not know what the circumstances are in this very sad death —
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : No; I do not know what the
circumstances are.
Hon Kate Doust : But I know that there have been a number
of injuries when this could have been resolved.
The PRESIDENT : Order! You cannot answer
your own question. It has to be answered by the minister or parliamentary
secretary.
Hon Kate Doust interjected .
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : Thank you, Mr President; I am
endeavouring to do that.
I do not think it is legitimate to draw a conclusion between
the lack of regulation in the area and the particular incident. As I was
saying, working on electrical equipment is by definition dangerous; that is why
skilled electricians are required so they can assess the hazards and deal with
those hazards. The investigation will reveal the circumstances of that tragedy,
and regulations are being developed that have taken some time to craft.
Hon Kate Doust interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN : I do not think I can add anything
further to it.
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